2023–24 Midland Football League

The 2023–24 Midland Football League season was the tenth in the history of the Midland Football League, a football competition in England. The Midland League operates two divisions in the English football league system, the Premier Division at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6; these two divisions are covered by this article.

Midland Football League
Season2023–24
ChampionsCongleton Town[1]
PromotedCongleton Town
Darlaston Town (1874)
2024–25

The allocations for Steps 3 to 6 for this season were announced by The Football Association on 15 May 2023,[2] and were subject to appeals. Starting this season, the Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. Solely for this season, there was only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.[3]

Premier Division

This division comprises 18 teams, two fewer than the previous season.

Premier Division table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Congleton Town (C, P) 34 25 6 3 101 31 +70 81 Promotion to the Northern Premier League
2 Lichfield City 34 22 7 5 81 33 +48 73 Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
3 Darlaston Town (1874) (O, P) 34 19 9 6 84 42 +42 66
4 Stourport Swifts 34 18 8 8 69 58 +11 62
5 Highgate United 34 19 4 11 81 50 +31 61
6 Studley 34 18 7 9 77 46 +31 61
7 Dudley Town 34 15 6 13 65 61 +4 51
8 Atherstone Town 34 14 7 13 53 49 +4 49
9 Shifnal Town 34 14 4 16 59 47 +12 46
10 Whitchurch Alport 34 14 4 16 59 61 2 46
11 AFC Wulfrunians 34 13 6 15 48 52 4 45
12 Uttoxeter Town 34 12 8 14 60 59 +1 44
13 Northwich Victoria 34 12 8 14 56 70 14 44
14 Romulus 34 9 8 17 51 65 14 35
15 Stone Old Alleynians 34 7 12 15 49 59 10 33
16 Wolverhampton Casuals 34 8 8 18 46 77 31 32
17 Tividale 34 5 9 20 38 77 39 24
18 Bewdley Town (R) 34 1 1 32 16 156 140 4 Relegation to the Hellenic League
Source: The FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 4

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Lichfield City 3
5 Highgate United 1
2 Lichfield City 1
3 Darlaston Town (1874) 3
3 Darlaston Town (1874) 3
4 Stourport Swifts 1

Semifinals

27 April Lichfield City 3–1Highgate UnitedLichfield
15:00
  • Edwards
  • Smith
Report
  • Brown 90'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 424
27 April Darlaston Town (1874) 3–1Stourport SwiftsWalsall
15:00
  • Cook 34'
  • Foreshaw 56', 79'
Report
  • Baker 40'
Stadium: Bentley Sports Pavilion
Attendance: 351

Final

4 May Lichfield City1–3 Darlaston Town (1874) Lichfield
15:00 Report Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 1,110

Stadia and locations

Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 Midland League Premier Division from Cheshire


Club Location Stadium Capacity
AFC WulfruniansWolverhamptonCastlecroft Stadium2,000
Atherstone TownAtherstoneSheepy Road
Bewdley TownBewdleyRibbesford Meadows1,000
Congleton TownCongletonCleric Stadium1,450
Darlaston Town (1874)WalsallBentley Sports Pavilion
Dudley TownWillenhallAsprey Arena
Highgate UnitedShirleyThe Coppice2,000
Lichfield CityLichfieldCity Ground1,000
Northwich VictoriaNorthwichWincham Park4,813
RomulusBirmingham (Castle Vale)Castle Vale Stadium2,000
Shifnal TownShifnalPhoenix Park
Stone Old AlleyniansMeir HeathKing's Park
Stourport SwiftsStourport-on-SevernWalshes Meadow2,000
StudleyStudleyThe Beehive
TividaleTividaleThe Beeches2,000
Uttoxeter TownUttoxeterOldfields
Whitchurch AlportWhitchurchYockings Park
Wolverhampton CasualsFeatherstoneBrinsford Lane

Division One

This division comprises 20 teams, one fewer than the previous season.

Division One table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hinckley (C, P) 38 27 5 6 114 47 +67 86 Promotion to the United Counties League
2 Allscott Heath 38 25 5 8 90 62 +28 80 Qualification for the play-offs, then
transfer to the North West Counties League
3 OJM CFC (O, P) 38 22 8 8 83 40 +43 74 Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
4 Ingles 38 22 7 9 74 48 +26 73
5 Droitwich Spa 38 22 6 10 113 68 +45 72 Qualification for the play-offs,
then transfer to the Hellenic League
6 Wednesfield 38 22 6 10 82 54 +28 72
7 Cradley Town 38 17 10 11 84 61 +23 61
8 Heather St John's 38 17 7 14 81 60 +21 58
9 Bilston Town 38 17 4 17 84 68 +16 55
10 Shawbury United 38 15 7 16 72 74 2 52 Transfer to the North West Counties League
11 Coventry Copsewood 38 14 9 15 71 65 +6 51
12 Sutton United 38 12 12 14 68 71 3 48
13 Stapenhill 38 13 8 17 64 72 8 47
14 Nuneaton Griff 38 13 8 17 65 81 16 47
15 Coton Green 38 12 10 16 53 63 10 46
16 Wolverhampton Sporting 38 10 6 22 48 74 26 36 Transfer to the North West Counties League
17 Chelmsley Town 38 8 9 21 43 98 55 33
18 Smethwick Rangers 38 9 3 26 43 100 57 30
19 Paget Rangers 38 8 3 27 49 109 60 27
20 AFC Bridgnorth 38 4 9 25 48 114 66 21 Reprieve from relegation
Source: The FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 5

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Allscott Heath 1
5 Droitwich Spa 3
3 OJM CFC 1 (5)
5 Droitwich Spa 1 (3)
3 OJM CFC 2
4 Ingles 0

Semifinals

27 April Allscott Heath1–3 Droitwich Spa Allscott
15:00
  • Morris
Report
  • Brighton 43'
  • Lemon 45', 64'
Stadium: Allscott Sports & Social Club
Attendance: 231
27 April OJM CFC 2–0InglesKings Norton
15:00
Report Stadium: Triplex Sports Ground
Attendance: 92

Final

4 May OJM CFC 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Droitwich SpaKings Norton
15:00 Report Stadium: Triplex Sports Ground
Attendance: 558

Stadia and locations

Club Location Stadium Capacity
AFC BridgnorthBridgnorthCrown Meadow
Allscott HeathAllscottAllscott Sports & Social Club
Bilston TownBilstonQueen Street4,000
Chelmsley TownColeshillPack Meadow
Coton GreenFazeleyNew Mill Lane
Coventry CopsewoodCoventryAllard Way2,000
Cradley TownCradleyBeeches View
Droitwich SpaDroitwich SpaKing George V Ground2,000
Heather St John'sHeatherSt John's Park2,050
HinckleyBarwellKirkby Road2,500
InglesThringstoneHomestead Road2,050
Nuneaton GriffNuneatonPingles Stadium4,000
OJM CFCBirmingham (Kings Norton)Triplex Sports Ground
Paget RangersSutton ColdfieldCentral Ground2,000
Shawbury UnitedShrewsburyNew Meadow Community 3G1,000
Smethwick RangersBoldmereTrevor Brown Memorial Ground2,500
StapenhillStapenhillEdge Hill1,500
Sutton UnitedSutton ColdfieldColeshill Road
WednesfieldWednesfieldCottage Ground
Wolverhampton SportingGreat WyrleyPride Park

References

  1. McLaughlin, Mike (11 April 2024). "Bears are Midland League champions". Non-League football round up. Congleton Chronicle. p. 34.
  2. "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2023-24 TERM". The Football Association. 15 May 2023.
  3. "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023.
  4. "The FA Handbook 2023/2024 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
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